Debate need not include name-calling

Saturday

Jun 30, 2012 at 12:01 AMJun 30, 2012 at 10:36 AM

It's a bit disappointing to be called "nihilists" by your governor, but that's what Gov. John Kasich called state Sen. Steve Skindell, D-Lakewood, and me in the Time magazine article "Force of Nature."

It’s a bit disappointing to be called “nihilists” by your governor, but that’s what Gov. John Kasich called state Sen. Steve Skindell, D-Lakewood, and me in the Time magazine article “Force of Nature.”

We and the governor have all sworn to defend Ohio’s constitution. We take that oath seriously and believe that the governor does, as well. However, we have markedly different interpretations of both the constitution and what our oath demands of us, and that is as it should be.

As the state’s chief executive officer, the governor is pressing for change and wants to privatize the state’s economic-development function. But the state and our constitution have a long history, one that includes a disastrous period in which state and local governments were so intertwined with private business that corruption was rampant and the state and local governments were nearly bankrupted. As a result, our constitution includes many provisions designed to restrain government and prevent overreach.

The governor is a busy man, and we doubt that he has researched the issues of constitutional law raised by the JobsOhio legislation. We have researched these issues and are left with the firm conviction that the legislation violates Ohio’s constitution in several fundamental respects. The complexity and length of the arguments mean that we cannot repeat them here, but they are all a matter of public record. The fact that these issues have so far escaped judicial scrutiny and instead have been dismissed on technical standing grounds says nothing about the constitutionality of the governor’s scheme; it only undermines the proper role of the judiciary as the ultimate constitutional arbiter.

Skindell and I respect and appreciate the energy that the governor brings to his job and have not and would not accuse the governor of attempting to harm the state by promoting his vision of a privatized economic-development agency.

A mature democracy demands respect for opposing views. Calling one’s opponents names, including nihilists, is the antithesis of a respectful dialogue about fundamentally important issues concerning the proper role and scope of government.

The honest competition of ideas is essential to the democratic process. In this case, however, the respect seems to be one-sided and the competition unwelcome. Nevertheless, we will stand firm in what we believe is our obligation to defend the constitution, even if the bus driver seems to be aiming in our direction.